Apparatus for hand gymnastic exercises.



NO. 867,981. PATENTED 001". 15, 1907. A. KRIZEK.

APPARATUS FOR HAND GYMNASTIG EXERCISES.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 3, 1907.

ALIHONS KRIZEK, OF UOBUHG. GERMANY.

APPARATUS F BHA'ND GYMNASTIC EXERCISES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed June 3,1907. erial No. 377,019.

To all whom ii. may concern:

lle it known that I, Atrnoxs K'mznx, a citizen of th United States ofAmerica, residing at Coburg, and whose p iddress is No. 16 Marlit,Coburg in the Empire of Germany, have invented new and usel'ul Apparatustor Iland Gymnastic Exercise, 01' which the l'ollowing is aspecification.

The present invention relates to a device which is adapted for use inhand gymnastic exercises and which is especially intended to exercisethe actions of the separate fingers ol the hand independently from oneanother, to remove muscular stillness and spasm and to improve theindependent action of one finger from the others, as such qualities areespecially needl'ul for pianol'ortc playing, violin playing, skilledmanual arts and l'ortypcwriting and the like.

The present device is adapted to hold the finger or fingers completelyout of action and motionless in any desired position whereby theexercise ol the finger or fingers which are not held out of action isfacilitated and the independent action of one finger l'rom another isexercised.

For this purpose the device consists oi mechanical parts adapted to holdthe separate fingers rigidly and capable ol being adjusted to correspondto the special finger lengths of a hand while laterally capa blc oibeing moved together or apart so as to allow oi two lingers being spreadapart any desired distance.

My invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in. which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view oi the apparatus, and Fig. 2 shows a sideview. I

lel'erring now to the drawings, the device consists of a strap a whichis adapted to be fastened around the wrist. This strap is attached to ametal plate I) to which aseries of rods corresponding with the four.

fingers are connected by sleeves cl. These sleeves are pivoted by pivotsi to the back of the plate, as shown in the drawings, in such a manneras will allow of the arms 9 being brought together or spread apart. Thesaid arms ,1 carry at their ends loopsf which are adapted to be passedover the ends of the fingers. The arms g can be adjusted in the sleeves(Z to the lengths of the particular lingers over which their respectiveloops f have been passrd. These arms are clamped in position by means ofscrews. The front edge 72 ol the plate I) is bent up, as shown. in Fig.2, and provided with a number of serrations between which the saidsleeves (l are adapted to engage, as shown.

It will be obvious that by this apparatus I can for instance, pass theloops f of three of said arms g over l l l the first, third and fourthfingers of a hand and spread the fingers laterally any desired distanceapart by moving the pivoted sleeves d of said arms over the serratcdedge h to the desired positions while I leave the second finger lree tomove. In this manner I am enabled to exercise a particular lingerindependently oi? the other lingers and at the same time exercise thespreading apart of said fingers.

The sleeves or holders (Z can be made oi any suitable material and canbe pivoted upon the plate in any convenient position, not necessarily inthe position shown; or instead ol' being pivoted said sleeves can beelastically secured to the plate. In the same manner the .rods whichhold the fingers i'ast may be made of any material and of any convenientform and length and can be provided instead of loops with end caps orthe like in order to give the necessary finger hold. These rods can alsobe attached directly to the plate instead of being connected to saidplate through the slots d. I can also arrange a single rod attached tothe plate adapted to branch into four arms corresponding to the lingerswhich are sul'licicntly elastic to allow 01' said arms being movedlaterally over the rack and such l'astening device would have to be madeadjustable. The plate itscll can be of any convenient material and maybe strengthened in any convenient manner. This plate need notnecessarily be fastened to the hand by the wrist but if desired maybeiastened around the palm or in any other suitable position.

It will be obvious that the apparatus described will serve fordeveloping the independence, strength and flexibility ol the separatefingers and their power of spreading apart.

What I claim is:

1. in a device for hand gymnastics, the combination of a plate, meansfor attaching the plate to the hand, a series of slei corresponding withthe lingers oi? the hand pi" ol'ed to said plate. a, eries oi" armsadapted to engage in and to he clamped to said sleeves, means forholding the lingers to said arms and means [or holding said sleeves inthe desired positions on said plate, substantially as described.

2. In a device for hand gymnastics. the combination of for attaching theplate to the hand, a. series corresponding with the fingers ol' the handpi\= oted to said plate. a series of arms adapted to engage in and to beclamped to said sleeves. loops arranged at the end of said arms adaptedto be passed over the fingers and means for holding said sleeves in thedesired positions on said plate. substantially as described.

Ii. In a device ifor hand gymnastics, the combination of a plate. meansfor a l'taehing the plate to the hand, a series of sleeves correspondingwith the fingers 01 the hand pivoted to said plate, a series of armsadapted to engage in and to be clamped to said sleeves, loops arrangedat the end of said arms adapted to be passed over the fingers and a bentup serrated edge on said plate adapted to hold the sleeves in anydesired position on said plate, substantially as described.

4. In a device for hand gymnastics, the combination of a plate, a strapadapted to buckle the plate to the wrist, a series of sleevescorresponding with the fingers 01" the hand pivoted to said plate, aseries of arms adapted to engage 10 in and to be clamped to saidsleeves, loops arranged at the end of said arms adapted to be passedover the fingers and a bent up serrated edge on said plate adapted tohold the sleeves in any desired position on said plate, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this 15 specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A. KRIZEK.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR QT STEPHENS, Li iommn E. HAYNES.

